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wwf CML N. PETERS. PHOTO LITHOGRA PHER @uiten gisten gateau @fitte JSEPH I). WHITE., F SAVANNAH, GERGI. Letters Patent llo. 67,827, dated August 13, 1867.

IMPROYED SWITCH.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CNCERN:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. WHITE, of Savannah, in-the county of Chatham, and State of Georgia, have invented a new and improved Railroad Switch; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andV exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure I represents a plan or top view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, thev plane of section being indicated by the line z 2:, fig. 1 t

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line y y, fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts. l

This invention relates to a new manner of arranging a self-setting railroad switch, which is so constructed that the engineer on the locomotive can set the switch, while the train is Vmoving at full. speed, sc that it will enter the required track.

The invention consists in securing to both ends of each rail of the switch a lever, which ts against the outside of one of the four outer rails, so that by inserting a. wedge, which is provided on the locomotive, between one of these levers and a rail, the switch will be moved in the desired direction. A spring-bolt is arranged which locks the switch in any one position, and which must, by a stop on the locomotive7 be released before the switch can be moved.

A represents the main track. B is the side track. C C are the rails of the'ewitch, which are pivoted by means of pins c a to a. sleeper in the ordinary manner. Near to the end of each rail of the switch is attached to the same a lever, D, which lies parallel with the outside of the oppositeoou'ter rails, as shown in iig. 1. Eis a bolt, which is arranged between the rails of the tracks A. B, and which is hingedlto the crank of a horizontal crankshaft, 6. To the latter is also secured an L-shaped lever, F, which projects above the ground, as shown, and

,which is held u b n. rinrf, c; thereb the bolt E is also moved forward so that its end, which is held between p y p o y 7 rails A B, as shown, -will lock the rail C in either position, at once preventing it from moving out, (iig. 1,)and also from moving in, (rod lines iig. I.)` By depressing the `free end of the lever F the bolt E will be withdrawn, so' that its end will not project beyond the' ends of the rails A B, and then the switch can be moved by forcing awedge in between that leveriD which fits close to its rail` 'The lever F is connected by a rod, G, with a similar lever,- H, arranged in the track A. at the opposite end of the switch, as shown, so that also by depressing the free end of the lever I'I the holt E is withdrawn. On each side of the car or locomotive I is arranged, in

front of the wheels J J, an up-anddown sliding lever, K, which can be moved up andtdown at will by a horizontnl lever, L, on the platfrom of the car, or by any other suitable device. On th'e lower end of each of the levers K is a wedge-shaped shoe, M,iwhich, when lowered by lowering the block k, the car moving, will gradually be forced between the lever D and the rail, over or near-to-Which it is suspended. Froml .the car is also suspended a lever or bar, N, which depressies the lever F or H, over which it passes, to release the bolt.

When the engineer desires to change or move from one track to another by means of the switch, he presses down the lever K, which is attached to 4the engine or car, thereby also lowering the corresponding wedge. When the car or engine moves forward the wedge which is thus lowered will strike the outward bent end of the lever D after the bar N has released the bolt by pressing upon the lever-F or H, and the switch is changed, or 4rather is forced, over to the desired track. When the wedge M is near to the connection of the lever D and mil C it meets an inclined plane, O, which is attached to the rail A or B on that side on which the wedge is lowered, and thereby the wedgeM and bar are raised again out of the way, so as not to interfere any more with the operation of the switch, unless again lowered. The spring c under each lever F or Hwill at once throw up the said lever, and lock the switch by the bolt as soon as the bar N leaves the lever F or H. To change the switch from the other end, the levers on the engine or car are pressed in the same manner, and

will unlock and change the switch as before. To change to the left-hand track the right-hand lover K'nnustv be n sed, :ind hice 'ce2-sa. This change can be madeto either side while the'car is in motion, thereby saving much time which would otherwise be lost in adjusting the switch. I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The. switch C, whenV provided with the Sievers D,and when cmbined with the hinged levers F and H, bar G, springs c c, or their eqniyelents, bolt E, and inclined planes O, all made andvoperating substantially as hereinshownv :ind described. I

2. Theabove in cmbination with the lever K K, wedges M M, and lever N, that are arranged on the engine or ear substantially as and fon the purpose herein shown and described.

The above specification. of my in'vention signed by me this 11th day of June, 1867. i

JOSEPH P. WHITE.

Witnesses LEVI S. HART. N. MARIN. 

